the presence of absence
The proposed project (originally called Cordoba House) is located in Lower Manhattan, New York, two blocks away from Ground Zero. It is going to replace Park Lane 45-51 - 1850s building, which was used as a Burlington Coat Factory until it was damaged in 9/11 attack. It was then neglected and disused and sold to Soho Properties.
The debates aroused after Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Soho Properties presented their plans to replace the building with a 13-storey Islamic community Center, which would accommodate a mosque, a theater, a performing arts center, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a basketball court, a childcare area, a bookstore, a culinary school, an art studio, a food court, and a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks.
The project has since attracted a lot of attention in media, politics and within international community as a whole.
Context
Location
45–51 Park Place, Manhattan, New York City
Proposed design for Park51 islamic community center
Site, aerial view
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PARK51